Thank goodness it was just the car...
11-23-10, 11:09 AM
#26
Old, but not really wise
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11-25-10, 07:20 PM
#28
Senior Member
Replies to the insurance comments:
Had the other driver rear ended your car with a bicycle on the back, their insurance would be responsible for the damage (replacement) of the bike as well as the car, since this is just more damage they are at fault for. This assumes they are insured, and you can collect at all. Not sure if your auto insurance would willingly pay for the bicycle if you are hit by an uninsured driver, but this is what uninsured motorist coverage is for.
Even if you're not in your car, if a motorist at fault hits you, the motorist (or their) insurance company is legally liable for damage to your bicycle. (Yes, you should be more concerned about injury, but there is no reason you should pay for a bicycle because they can't drive.)
Evidently, a number of police and bicyclists are not aware of this. In my case, a policeman did find the drivers insurance information for a departed teenage (but did not cite the driver for leaving the scene of the accident, and the policman also transcribed sore and bruised as "no injuries"). I have heard of a number of other cases where the police indicated to driver and bicyclist that the driver's insurance was responsible for the bicyclists medical bills but that the bicyclist was responsible for damage to the bicycle (car ran stop sign). A 17 year old bicyclist did not know enough to question the police. Legally the at fault party is responsible for all damage, to the bicycle as well as the bicyclist (it was an expensive gift from his grandmother; with this type of (mis)enforcement, he has stopped bicycling)
Had the other driver rear ended your car with a bicycle on the back, their insurance would be responsible for the damage (replacement) of the bike as well as the car, since this is just more damage they are at fault for. This assumes they are insured, and you can collect at all. Not sure if your auto insurance would willingly pay for the bicycle if you are hit by an uninsured driver, but this is what uninsured motorist coverage is for.
Even if you're not in your car, if a motorist at fault hits you, the motorist (or their) insurance company is legally liable for damage to your bicycle. (Yes, you should be more concerned about injury, but there is no reason you should pay for a bicycle because they can't drive.)
Evidently, a number of police and bicyclists are not aware of this. In my case, a policeman did find the drivers insurance information for a departed teenage (but did not cite the driver for leaving the scene of the accident, and the policman also transcribed sore and bruised as "no injuries"). I have heard of a number of other cases where the police indicated to driver and bicyclist that the driver's insurance was responsible for the bicyclists medical bills but that the bicyclist was responsible for damage to the bicycle (car ran stop sign). A 17 year old bicyclist did not know enough to question the police. Legally the at fault party is responsible for all damage, to the bicycle as well as the bicyclist (it was an expensive gift from his grandmother; with this type of (mis)enforcement, he has stopped bicycling)
11-25-10, 08:04 PM
#29
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I have seen the show on occasion... though not that episode. It is worth noting that I've never ~liked~ my Prius, while recognizing that it had been a pretty decent little car. No fun to drive, very expensive to repair (fortunately didn't need too much repair work...) I loved the fuel economy, esp. while gas was $4/ gallon a couple of years ago. But I'd never strongly encourage others to buy them. They lack 'soul'.
